|
The Amaranthaceae
family is composed
of about 180 genera
and 2500 species.
These common weeds
have become
increasingly
relevant as triggers
of allergy in the
last few years, as
they are able to
rapidly colonize
salty and arid soils
in extensive desert
areas. The genera
Chenopodium,
Salsola, and
Amaranthus are
the major sources of
pollinosis from the
Amaranthaceae
family in southern
Europe, western
United States, and
semidesert areas of
Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, and Iran. In
Spain, Salsola
kali is one of
the most relevant
causes of pollinosis,
together with olive
and grasses.
To date, 9
Amaranthaceae pollen
allergens from
Chenopodium album,
Salsola kali,
and Amaranthus
retroflexus have
been described and
are listed in the
International Union
of Immunological
Societies allergen
nomenclature
database. The major
allergens of
Amaranthaceae pollen
belong to the pectin
methylesterase, Ole
e 1like, and
profilin panallergen
families, whereas
the minor allergens
belong to the
cobalaminindependent
methionine synthase
and polcalcin
panallergen
families. These
relevant allergens
have been
characterized
physicochemically,
and immunologically
at different levels.
Recombinant forms,
allergenic fusion
recombinant
proteins, and
hypoallergenic
derivatives of these
allergens have been
expressed in
bacteria and yeast
and compared with
their natural
proteins from
pollen. In this
review, we provide
an extensive
overview of
Amaranthaceae pollen
allergens, focusing
on their
physicochemical, and
immunological
properties and on
their clinical
significance in
allergic patients.
We also review
studies where these
recombinant
allergens and their
hypoallergenic
derivatives have
been used in
clinical diagnosis
and their potential
use in personalized
therapy.
Key words:
Pollinosis.
Amaranthaceae.
Recombinant
allergen.
Cross-reactivity. |
